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Cornelian Cherry

bare-root plants
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Cornus mas

20-25' × 15-20'

Delicious bright red pear-shaped edible “cherries” set heavily in late summer. Dense, chewy and sweet, they deliver a distinctive toothsome tang—there’s nothing like it. Nutritious, medicinal, high in vitamin C and good in jam, syrup, tarts, fruit leather and wine. Let them ripen to full sweetness before picking. 

Clusters of small delicate yellow flowers cover the leafless tree in early spring for a striking show before the forsythias even think of waking up. Long-lived large shrub with upright rounded habit makes a great edible hedge or can be pruned to a small tree. 

Prefers well-drained soil and full sun but otherwise adaptable. Likely to bear fruit in 2–3 years. Partially self-fertile—plant multiples to improve yields. 

Native to Europe and Asia. Z4/5.

(1–3' bare-root plants)

Maine Grown.
ships in spring
Quick Details
Bloom Color
yellow
Maine Grown
Yes
Hardy to Zone
4
Additional Information

Cornelian Cherry Cornus mas

Gaining popularity in the U.S., the fruits of this Old World gem have been harvested by humans for thousands of years. Bright red pear-shaped edible “cherries” set heavily in late summer. Let them fully ripen to their full sweet potential before picking. Clusters of small delicate yellow flowers cover the leafless tree in early spring for a striking show before the forsythias even think of waking up.

Long-lived large shrub with upright rounded habit makes a great edible hedge or can be pruned to a small tree. Nutritious, medicinal, high in vitamin C and good in jam, syrup, tarts, fruit leather and wine. The wood is hard and strong, once used for spears and wheel spokes. This plant has it all.

Prefers well-drained soil and full sun but otherwise adaptable. Partially self-fertile—plant multiples to improve yields. Native to Europe and Asia.

See also: Cornelian Cherry Recipes

Small Trees and Shrubs

As Green’s Nursery catalog from 1904 explains, “There are many trees that by pruning can be made to resemble shrubs, and many shrubs that by different pruning may be made to produce medium-sized trees.”

Shipping

Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered on or before February 20 will ship from March through early May, starting with warmer areas and finishing in colder areas.

Orders placed after February 20 will ship from April to May.